The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-12-17
THREE DAYS IN TRAFALGAR.

the most perfect manner, so that their flags
would again lead the German people to victory.
THREE DAYS IN TRAFALGAR.
Acsion ofsthe Police in Breaking Up the
Meetings of London's Unemployed.
Correspondence of the indianapolis Journal.
LONDON, Nov, 1s6z-In the early part Of Octo-
Der. was passing through Trafalgar square,
aud was surprised to large gathering of
workingmen filling the side OF the square facing
the National Gallery. clustering round the base
OF the Nelson column, and hiding the basins Of
the fountains from view the steps and rail-
ings of the National Gallery were crowded with
spectators. and pedestrians were hurryine from
all quarters to what was going on. Police
men in groups OF twos and threes were dotted
about, chatting and laughing good-naturedly to-
getner. Finding it was useless to attempt to get
n notion Of the cause Of the unwonted assembly
from the upper roadway, on account Of the num-
bers of well-dressed spectators that were every
minute gathering round the stone parapet which
divides the upper pavement from the lower
square, in which demonstrations are held, I
descended the steps. and joined the crowd
Adense mass of quietly-disposed workingmen,
strsining their ears to catch the sound OF the
voice Of q speaker haranguing in their midst
the unemployed at 3 o'clock in the afternoon.
Ten minutes later the orderly meeting had been
changed into struggling, scuf1ing. skurrying
mass by the unexpected and uncalled for inter-
ference of the police, who charged the people,
driving them hither and thither. while shops
were invaded by frightened passengers seeking
the protection of shelsering walls; heads broken
by batons and fists, and curses, not loud, but
deep, uttered authority exercised without
humanity end without Judgment. By strange
coincidence, while the police were teaching the
populace the necessity Of being prepared to
fight for the right Of public meeting, Mr.. Glad
stone was warning Englishmen that the sup
preston Of free speech in Ireland would be but
the prelude Of like tyranny in England
Nearly . month has passed since the untoward
incident just narrated, and 1t may be interesting
to the readers Of the Journal to the position
Of the eontending parties at the present time.
All through the month, whether chill October
blasts have blown. drenchiug showers have
descended, the meetings of the unemployed have
steadily and persistently ''held the square"
There are rights that are worth m ain tanning even
ut the cost Of q few broken heads am afraid
''sweetness and light" is scarcely promoted by
the gathering of masses Of hungry men. Pro-
cessions are q nuisance in crowded thorough
fares and ir is very disagreeable to be constant
ly reminded that there hundreds of people
on the brink Of starvation, and consequently
apt, with little extra push. to step over into
the ranks Of crime. The police. too, are having
a hard time, and the majority of them. as they
stand to keep guard in Trafalgar square. show
traces of long hours spent on duty and short
hours spent in sleep.
Let take q record OF three typical days and
see where the struggle OF month has landed
rs. We will begin with Friday Nov. T. About
IL o'clock the usual number of unemployed
from 1000 to 1,500) have assembled in the
square, and the speakers have assembled the base
OF Nelson column and begin to address the meet
ing. A large body of constables march forward
and take up their position the south side of
the column, while a small number make their
way round to the northern corners. Presently
superintendent of police forces his way
through the crowd, and gives the speaker to un-
derstand that he wishes few words with him.
ThereuDon some one in the crowd shouts "Never
mind the police; go on. Webb" However. the
superintendent gets quiet hearing, and informs
the meeting that on Thursday he had warned
speaker that he had been using seditious Ian
guage and if he persisted he would be arrested.
This causes considerable SURPRISE as the police
warning had been so conveyed as to ESCAPE the
knowledge of the bulk of those attending the
meeting. Superintendent Shepherd then in
forms those present that language has been used
at these meetings calculated to terrorize the
people and to lead to a breach of the peace, and
If such language is repeated those using it will
be arrested
After this episode the Fofficer withdraws and
the speaking continues The audience is quiet
and sorderly. Suddenly four constab!es climb
on TO the pedestal and arrest the leaders of the
meeting. Taken by surprise. those the col
umn Jump hurriedly down and bury themselves j
in the sureing mass, which, panic-strcken,
scatters in all directions. Now the constables
get faInong the people and add to the fright and
confusion. Peaceful and law-abidine citizens,
who have been watching the proceedings, pass
to each other on the wanton action of
the police, while here and there irate shop
Keeper who feels himself aggrieved by this
nual parade of the effects OF the competitive
system. mutters q surly Serves them right"
Weared by their long watches. and, being hu-
the police .'go for" the helpless crowd with q
great deal of uncaled-for violence and here and
there a wretched object may be seen suffering
under the fists of the guardians of public order.
Has any philosopher yet discovered why it is
the ragged. hsggard characterization is al.
ways singled out in a crowd TO serve scape-
goat fo- the people! a few minutes suffice to
clear the square, but for some time intending
demonstrators keephurrying up, inquiring and
wondering why the meeting they have come TO
attend is not being held
At about half past excitement is again awak
.ned by q man who is said to be using violent
language outside Morley's Hotel, facing the
conveyed to Bow-street Police Court, an angry |
crowd following the constables and the captive. |
The report Of what took place before the magis- |
trate, at the examination OF this man, Cousins,
as given next day by the Daily News, will con- |
vey more forcby than any words of mine the |
tension at present existing between the people |
and the authorities.
Henry Cross. 213 W., said, about half past |
be was duty Trafalgar square. He saw |
the prisoner Cousins. near Morleys Hotel, with |
A hundred persons around him. He heard him |
make of words which would incite the pao- |
pie to riot He was asked to move on, and said. |
is this what you call free countryP |
cousins: Its lie.'l He said he would go |
away when no liked, and commenced to walk |
round witness. crowd assembled, and he was |
taken into custody. He was brought up the |
STRAND, and someone in the crowd said AT the |
corner will have q GO for them Sergeant /
Crawford directed that man to be arrested.
Sergeant Crawford said he duty IN the |
strand and saw Cousins surrounded by large |
crowd TIE pavement was blocked. When he |
was asked go away he resisted the action of |
the police and said. All you who GO -
,ools. Who the - ara the nolice2 This is a fraa |